Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-07
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
In some countries, more and more people are hiring a personal fitness trainer, rather than playing sports or doing exercise classes. What are the reasons for this? Is this a positive or a negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
In today's world, people have a choice to get anything at any hour. To have a personal fitness trainer who will design a lifestyle for only you is beneficial but at the same time getting completely dependent on someone has its own downsides. Let's look at the both sides of the coin.
Firstly, people prefer having a personal trainer because it gives them confidence. Those who go to the gym have to face judgement, ridicule and uncalled advice. Secondly, personal trainers give you freedom to choose the place allowing you to be more in controlled of your surroundings. My sister who has hired a personal trainer, gets hands-on advice about food, exercise, and lifestyle. Moreover, you have to take the plunge to start your fitness journey and keep your mental health stable. So, hiring personal trainers is like killing two birds with one stone.
On the other hand, people have made themselves too comfortable in their nest. Once you have a personal trainer, you lack independence to try things on your own. You don't get enrolled in a new sport or exercise class, hence you can't monitor your growth through a different lens. Additionally, those who go to gym or sports arena, communicate with others. Acquaintances learn from shared experiences in the real world. The bonds help to grow emotionally, mentally and physically. In addition, a variety of trainings can be done in gym with a variety of equipment. The fee for gym and sports arena are also affordable as they offer you different packages.
The debate of hiring a personal fitness trainer is like a double-edged sword and it is up to each individual to choose according to their preference, need, and exposure.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for hiring personal trainers and an evaluation of whether this is a positive or negative development. The ideas are relevant, such as the desire for privacy and the loss of social interaction. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the point about 'mental health' is mentioned but not clearly linked to the trainer's role. The position is clear, though the conclusion is a bit neutral rather than taking a firm stance. To reach a higher band, ensure that each reason is fully explained with more specific examples or logical consequences.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs. There is a progression of ideas from the reasons for hiring trainers to the drawbacks. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the second paragraph (e.g., 'those who go to gym') could be smoother. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the central topic of each paragraph is clear, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate and allows for clear communication. You used some idiomatic expressions like 'both sides of the coin', 'take the plunge', 'killing two birds with one stone', and 'double-edged sword'. While these show an attempt at natural expression, they are sometimes used in contexts where more precise academic vocabulary would be better. There are minor collocation issues, such as 'more in controlled of your surroundings' (should be 'more in control of'). The range is sufficient to convey your arguments, but more precise topic-specific vocabulary would elevate the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The fee for gym and sports arena are' (subject-verb agreement error: 'fee' is singular) and 'the both sides' (should be 'both sides'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band. You have attempted complex structures, but the control over them is inconsistent. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.